a fool to go about
with a budget of slanderous old wives' tales." Hugh laughed. "Be not
so wroth, little lord, or I shall be asking thee tales of marvels also.
But hearken. I shall smooth out thy frowns with a smile when thou hast
heard this: this folk are not only afeard of their old enemies, the
devil-led men, but also they fear those whom the devil-led men have
driven out of house and home, to wit, the Burgers. Yet again they fear
the Burgers yet more, because they have beaten some of the very foes of
Higham, to wit, the Westland Barons; for they have taken from them some
of their strong-holds, and are deemed to be gathering force."

Ralph pondered a while, and then he said: "Brother, hast thou any
tidings of Upmeads, or that these Burgers have gone down thither?" "God
forbid!" said Hugh. "Nay, I have had no tidings of Upmeads since I was
fool enough to leave it."

"What! brother," said Ralph, "thou hast not thriven then?"

"I have had ups and downs," said Hugh, "but the ups have been one rung
of the ladder, and the downs three--or more. Three months I sat in
prison for getting me a broken head in a quarrel that concerned me not.
Six months was I besieged in a town whither naught led me but ill-luck.
Two days I wore in running thence, having scaled the wall and swam the
ditch in the night. Three months I served squire to a knight who gave
me the business of watching his wife of whom he was jealous; and to
help me out of the weariness of his house I must needs make love myself
to the said wife, who sooth to say was perchance worth it. Thence
again I went by night and cloud. Ten months I wore away at the edge of
the wildwood, and sometimes in it, with a sort of fellows who taught me
many things, but not how to keep my hands from other men's goods when I
was hungry. There was I taken with some five others by certain
sergeants of Higham, whom the warriors of the town had sent out
cautiously to see if they might catch a few men for their ranks. Well,
they gave me the choice of the gallows-tree or service for the Church,
and so, my choice made, there have I been ever since, till I saw thy
face this evening, fair sir."

"Well, brother," said Ralph, "all that shall be amended, and thou shalt
back to Upmeads with me. Yet wert thou to amend thyself somewhat, it
might not be ill."

Quoth Hugh: "It shall be tried, brother. But may I ask thee
somewhat?" Said Ralph: "Ask on." "Fair Sir," said Hugh, "thou
see